Central Kitsap Reporter, February 14, 2014

February 14, 2014 edition of the Central Kitsap Reporter

Reporter
Central Kitsap
CELEBRATING
Black History
Month at
Olympic High
School
Page 8
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014 | Vol. 29, No. 20 | WWW.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM | 50¢
Love is in
the air...
BY SERAINE PAGE
SPAGE@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
Although today’s holiday has a strong
focus on chocolates, dozens of roses
and candlelight dinners, that isn’t the
only perspective worth considering.
While mushy cards and engagements
are nice, it is also a perfect time to
think of the root of true love and its
meaning. There’s no better source to
ask for honest opinions than a child.
Kids from Clear Creek Elementary
School in Silverdale answer simply
and sweetly on how to show love in
its best light. Their charming answers
remind us why it isn’t a bad thing to
have a day dedicated to love.
We asked each of the kids, “How do
you show someone you love them?”
Here’s what they had to say:
“I would give my mom and dad
a little bear holding a little bag
of chocolates with candies in
them. I would probably give my
brother a Valentine’s Day card.”
~Kathryn De Armond, 6, at right
“Having family come together
usually not watching T.V. —
looking at each other’s faces and
we usually play games together.”
~Isabel Fleck, 10, above
“Show that you care. You can
give them a homemade card or
a hug.”
~Brooke Keeley, 9, above
“I would maybe do an art
project or something.”
~Ryan Collins, 9, at left
“You take them out for dinner
and give them flowers.”
~Charlize Katz, 9, at right
SEE MORE KIDS ON PAGE 13
CK voters approve school levy
BY SERAINE PAGE
SPAGE@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
The Central Kitsap
School Maintenance and
Operations (M & O) levy
has passed in a mail-in
election Tuesday.
For Central Kitsap
School District voters,
the M & O renewal levy
supports
day-to-day
operations.
“I’m pretty elated,”
said Central Kitsap
Superintendent Hazel
Bauman. “It’s always
nerve wracking especially when you’re new and
you know the community doesn’t really know
you yet and you’re trying
to establish a sense of
competence and momentum.”
Of those who voted, 57
percent voted in favor of
the levy. In opposition,
voters brought in 43 percent of the vote. In total,
7,610 voters turned in
‘yes’ ballots. Against the
measure were 5,739 voters, according to unofficial results for the special
election.
The levy is 20 percent
of the budget for Central
Kitsap School District.
On an average home
assessed at $245,000, the
rate per $1,000 will be
$3.43 starting in 2015.
In 2016, the rate will
be $3.41 per $1,000 of
assessed value. The existing rate is $3.23.
Levy funds for Central
Kitsap will provide $20.8
SEE LEVY, A13
Sheriff says he
won’t run again
BY KEVAN MOORE
KMOORE@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
Kitsap County Sheriff
Steve Boyer announced this
week that he plans to retire
at the end of the year and
will not seek re-election to
another term.
Boyer said that some
recent health issues played
a role in his decision.
“Fortunately, medical
professionals have ruled out
any serious issues affecting my wellbeing,” he said.
“While another term as
sheriff would be possible,
this has prompted me to
reflect on the future and
consider some new adventures. Although this may
slow me down a bit, I consider this another challenge.”
Noting that he would
be 68 years old at the end
of another term if he ran
again, Boyer said, “the wise
men know when and the
foolish wait too long” to
retire. He also joked that,
“I’d like to be remembered
for something other than
those silly (baseball-style)
cards I hand out.”
Boyer said he wasn’t
really sure if his retirement
rates as news or not.
“I would of preferred to
just ride off into the sunset like Matt Dillon or Roy
Rogers or something,” he
said.
After first being elected
in 1998, Boyer has been the
sheriff in Kitsap County
for 15 years. Overall, his
law enforcement career
spans 34 years. Prior to
his first election, he served
in the Washington State
Patrol for 27 years as a
trooper, detective, sergeant
and as a Lieutenant and
Commander.
Boyer declined to speculate about who may run
to replace him, but said
he is prepared to make an
endorsement at some point.
Boyer said two low points
during his career as sheriff were when two deputies
File photo
Sheriff Steve Boyer
were shot at the Walmart
in Port Orchard and a third
came to their aid in 2011,
and the night that Trooper
Tony Radulescu, 44, was
killed alongside State Route
16 after making a traffic
stop.
On the brighter side,
Boyer said the sheriff ’s
office has come a long way
during his 15-year run and
he is especially proud of the
men and women he served
with.
“For the amount of
resources we have, we don’t
take a backseat to anybody
in terms of the quality of
service,” he said. “My job
has always been to push
them to the next plateau.
One of the things that I am
most proud of is I tried to
create a culture where we
are a part of the community
and solving problems in a
way where it’s more than,
‘Just the facts, ma’am.’ “
When it comes to all the
new tools and gadgets that
have emerged in the last 15
years — from tazers, computers in patrol cars and
other advances — Boyer
said his deputies’ roles have
remained fundamental.
“Policing is still a people
business,” he said. “You
can have all the tech in the
world, but if you don’t have
people that care and are
engaged with the commuSEE BOYER, A13